Handle control for suction cleaners and the like



H. B. WHITE Feb. 8, 1949.

HANDLE' CONTROL FOR SUCTION CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Fi led Sept. 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 96 INVENTOR. Harryfi. White W ATTORNEY.

Feb. 8, 1949. H. B. WHITE 2,461,458

- HANDLE CONTROL FOR SUCTION CLEANERS: AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 25, 1947 -2 Shets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR Harry 13. While ATTORNEY.

Patented 8, 194

UNITED STATES Artur orrlcs HANDLE CONTROL FOR SUGTION CLEAN ERS AND THE LIKE Harry B. White, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 775,615

mechanism for the handle of a suction cleaner or other tool having a pivoted operating handle. .Another object is to provide a control mechanism for locking the handle relative to a tool body to prevent the latter from tilting downwardly when the tool is raised from the floor. Still another object is to provide means for releasing the handle from its locked position by moving the handle :away from its normal operating range. Another -:object is to provide a handle control mechanism which operates automatically to lock the handle positively in a preselected position when moved thereto and which releases the handle from locked position upon first moving the handle slightly in a direction away from its normal operating range. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to providea handle control mechanism for a suction cleaner having one or more normal operating ranges and a non-operating range including a positive locking mechanism' located between the operating and non-operating ranges which is released by movement of the handle into the non-operating range. A still further object is to provide means biasing the handle from both the operating and non-operating ranges and toward a locked position intermediate said ranges. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the handle control mechanism along the line 2--2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a sectional View along line 3--3 of Figure 2, and showing the handle in locked position.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing the handle moved into its non-operating range to engage a mechanism for unlocking the.

handle.

Figure 5 is another view similar to Figure 3 but showing the handle unlocked for movement to its operating ranges.

Figure 6 is an exterior side view of the handle control showing the means for biasing the handle .away from the non-operating range.

Figure '7 is similar to Figure 6 except that the Claims. (01. 306-13) means of a pin 4|.

handle has been moved to the opposite end of its non-operating range. 7

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed has been illustrated as applied to a suction cleaner although it will be apparentthat it is applicable to other tools such, for example, as floor polishers, floor scrubbers, and the like. Figure 1 shows a suction cleaner having a body provided with a casing H) and .a surface engaging nozzle H communicating with the usual fan chamber and exhaust passageway which terminates in an annular exhaust flange I2. A dirt filtering bag 13 is removably attached to flange i2 by means of a pair of screws and nuts M, only i one of which is shown- Housing l3 encloses a motor fan unit of any desired type which operates in a well known manner to draw dirt-laden air from the surface being cleaned, through the nozzle i l, into the fan chamber and to discharge the dirt-laden air through the exhaust passageway into the dirt filtering bag 3. The cleaner is supported on front and rear wheels l6 and ii, respectively.

The cleaner is propelled over the surface being cleaned by means of a handle it removably supported at its lower end in a socket Hi. This socket is pivotally connected to the cleaner body by a pin 20 mounted in the side walls 2! and 22 of a U-shaped handle bracket 23 the rear wall 24 of which is rigidly attached to exhaust flange i2 by rivets 25. Bracket 23 is also provided with flanges 26 which'are attached to casing ill by rivets 21.

A handle control member 28 has a flange 29 secured to flange 23 and exhaust flange i2 by the rivets 25. Member 28 includes a sector 36 which projects forwardly into the handle socket l9 and is provided with stops 3! and 32, one of which lies below and the other above arcuate surface 33. As shown, the center of this arc coincides with the axis of pivot pin 20. As will be more fully explained below, stop 35 cooperates with a detent to lock handle is positively in a desired non-operating position. As shown, this is when the handle is in a vertical position although it can be at any angle to the vertical as will be readily understood. Stop 32, on the other hand, is merely a limiting stop positioned at'the lower end of the handle operating range.

The detent referred to above comprises an arm 34 the U-shaped end 35 of which is pivotally mounted to side walls 31, 38 of handle socket I9 by a pin 36. A detent roller 40 is rotatably mounted on the lower end 39 of the arm by The detent is biased into engagement with the outer edge of control sector prevent further downward movement of the.

handle. Likewise as the handle is raised the roller will ride on surface 33 until it falls behind stop 3| which is sufiiciently deep to prevent reverse movement of the handle. Accordingly, when the handle is moved into this position it is positively locked and cannot be lowered until the detent is rotated outwardly away from the stop. a

In order to prevent the handle from falling to the floor once it is unlocked, I prefer to employ the counterbalancing spring 46. This spring surrounds an extension of pivot pin the outermost end of which is supported by a bracket 47 rigidly secured to the outer side of handle bracket 23.

One end '48 of the counterbalance spring rests against bracket 4'! While the opposite end 49 of the spring bears against a flange 58 of an arm 5i rigidly secured to side wall 31 of handle socket I 9. Spring 46 is preferably so designed as to substantially counterbalance the weight of the cleaner handle and filter bag 13 when the handle is at anangle somewhat below the normal operating position of to the horizontal.

The means for automatically unlocking the handle when it is moved forwardly slightly into its non-operating range will now be described. This means comprises a pawl 53 pivoted to some stationary portion of the cleaner as pivot pin 25.

rotated into the non-operating position. Pawl 53 is biased by a torsion spring 51 to rotate coun terclockwise against stop pin 58 mounted on sector 39. However when notch 55 of the detent engages end 55 of the pawl as shown in. Figure 4,

the pawl will rotate clockwise along with detent i .I

34 and handle 18. Since detentroller 4E! is now held outwardly some distance from a positive locking position with respect to stop 3! it will be obvious that, as the handle is moved toward its operating range, the roller will over-ride the stop onto 'arcuate surface 33. As the roller rides-onto surface 33, notch 56 will move out of engagement with the end of pawl 53 thereby releasing the pawl for return to its position against stop 58 under the tension of spring 51.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the operating range of the handle, so far as respects control sector 3!}, may be described as extending between stops 3! and 32, or from the vertical position of the handle rearwardly to approximately the horizontal position. on the same basis, the non-operating range extends forwardly from'the vertical position to that angle required for notch 56 of the detent to over-ride and engage end 55 of pawl53. Preferably the operating range may be divided into what may be conveniently described as upper and lower ranges. The upper range is that used by an operator whenstanding upright and holding the handle at a convenient 'ang'le'such as 45 degrees for example. The lower a storage position as shown in Figure 3.

Q range is that used when the handle is lowered to nearly horizontal for the purpose of moving the cleaner beneath low furniture and the like. Surface 33 may be provided with an upwardly extending cammed abutment if desired to cooperate with the roller detent and resistingly prevent the handle from falling into the lower range unless the operator applies suihcient pressure to over-ride this abutment.

In order to insure that the handle does not become accidentally unlocked while in the vertical or storage position'I prefer to employ a torsion spring 59 in the manner illustrated in Figures 6 and '7. This spring surrounds pivot pin 28. One end abuts plate 29 of the bracket assembly while the other end 8| normally abuts inwardly extending lug 84 on the side wall of the handle bracket. A stop pin 52 is carried by skirt 3? of the handle socket so as to strike end. 83 of the spring and place it under increased tension slightly before or just as the handle reaches its locked storage position. This spring pressure is suiiici'ent to require a positive operating force to rotate the handle forwardly far enough to unlatch the roller detent thereby safeguarding the unintended disengagement of the locking mechanism,

It will also be noted that the lowermost .portion of the handle socket is formed with an abutmerit 53 which cooperates with lugs .54 of the bracket to limit the forward movement of the handle in the non-operating or handle releasing range.

. In operation let us assume the handle it is in Under these circumstances roller detent to engages step (ii and positively locks the handle against rearward clockwise movement towards the operating handle range of the cleaner. The detent is held in this position by spring 42. The cleaner may be transported freely from place to place without any possibility of the cleaner tilting downwardly to injure the user, fine furnishings, or the cleaner itself. Moreover, the dirt and other foreign matter which may be lodged in the air passagewaysof the cleaner or which might fall downwardly from the filter cannot drop from the nozzle onto the cleaned floor. The further and important advantage is that the cleaner may be used in handle locked position to clean stair treads, elevated surfaces and other surfaces difficult to clean with the handle in a freely pivoting condition.

Not only is the handle held in locked position J by the means just described, but the safety torsion spring 59 prevents accidental movement of the handle into the forward or non-operating range unless and until the operator applies a positive forward pressure to the handle. Moreover, this safety spring is locked out of operation by reason of abutment 64 as soon as the handle passes into the operating range. For this reason spring 45 is fully effective to counterbalance the weight of the handle immediately the handle enters. the operating range.

When it is desired to adjust the handle -downwardly or into the operating range-s it is merely necessary to first move it through a slight angle in the opposite direction so that roller deten't 3'4 over-rides the outer end of pawl 53 and end 55 of the pawl becomes engaged in notch 56 of the detent. Thereafter the movement of the handle is reversed toward. the operating range. This movement causes detent 34 to rotate the pawl upwardly until roller 45 rides over the top of stop 3| and onto surface 33. As this occurs, the pawl becomes disengaged from the notch and is returned by spring 51 against stop 58. Thereafter the weight of the handle is largely counterbalanced by spring 46 and the operator may pivot the handle freely through the entire range determined by stops 3| and 32. However, as soon as the handle is elevated to a vertical position spring 42 depresses the detent behind stop 3| and positively locks the handle into a storage or parked position. Since safety spring 59 is now engaged by pin 62 on the handle to place the spring under tension, it will be clear that this tension will appraise the operator that the handle is in locked condition.

While I have shown and described but a single modification of my invention, it is to be understood that this modification is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense." I do not wish to be limited to the particular structures shown and described, but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

It is to be understood that the protection herein applied for is not confined to the particular combinations of features or elements set out in the following claims. Protection is herein applied for for any one or more of the features or elements referred to in the following claims, or

described in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanying drawings, either independently or in combination.

I claim:

1. In combination, an ambulatory tool, an operating handle therefor, means for pivotally securing said handle to said tool, said last mentioned means including means for permitting movement of the handle with respect to said tool through a tool operating range and a non-operating range, means for automatically and positively locking said handle at one extreme of said operating range against return into the operating range, and means automatically operable to release said'locking means upon movement of said handle into said non-operating range.

- 2. In combination, an ambulatory tool, an operating handle therefor, means for pivotally securing said handle to said tool, means providing for movement of said handle through a tool operating range and a non-operating range, said last mentioned means including cooperating detent and stop means operable at one extreme of said operating range to lock said handle positively against return to said operating range and means for rendering said locking means ineffective to prevent such return of said handle upon movement of said handle away from operating and intosaid non-operating range.

3. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having wheeled supported means, a handle pivotally connected to said body for propelling the same, means cooperatively disposed between said handle and said body, providing a relatively large handle operating range and a relatively small non-operating range and including means intermediate said ranges for positively locking said handle against return movement to said operating range, and means rendered operable automatically upon movement of said handle in said non-operating range to release said locking means whereby said handle is thereafter movable into said operating range.

4. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having wheeled supporting means, a handle pivotally connected to? said body for'propellingthe same, means operatively associated with said'body'and with said handle for controlling the position thereof in an operating range and a non-operating range, said last mentioned means including spring means connected between said body and said handle operable to bias said'handle toward the entry point of each of said ranges;

5. In a suction cleaner, a cleanerbody having wheeled supporting means, a handle pivotally connected to said body for propelling the same, means operatively associated with said body and with said handle for controlling the position thereof in a first and a second range of move-' ment, means operable to lock said handle against return to one of said ranges when moved to a position intermediate said ranges, said last mentioned means including means to release said locking means upon movement of said handle into the other of said ranges.

6. In combination, a suction cleaner havin a body, supporting wheels therefor, a handle plyoted to said body and operable in a vertical plane through a cleaner operating range and 'a non-operable range, cooperating detent and stop means associated with said body and handle operable to lock said handle automatically against return to said operating range uponmoveme nt to a position between said two ranges, and spring means operable to bias said handle out of both of said ranges and toward said locking position. 7

7. In combination, a suction cleaner having a; body, supporting wheels therefor, a handle pivoted to said body for movement in a'vertical plane and at a point removed materially from the center of gravity of said cleaner, cooperating roller detent and stop means associated with said body and said handle operable to lock said handle in a non-operating parked position so that said cleaner may be picked up b said handle and transported without substantial relative movement of said cleaner and handle, and means'for unlocking said handle for return to an operating position upon first moving the handle through a relatively small angle in a direction away from said operating range.

8. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body, a ban dle movably mounted on said body formovement in opposite directions to adjust said han'dleto different positions in an operating range, locking means for positively locking said handle with respect to said body to prevent movement of said handle in one of said opposite directions, and means operable upon movement of said handle in a direction opposite to said one direction to disengage said locking means for movement of said handle in said one direction.

' 9. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body, a handl movably mounted on said body' for movement in opposite directions to adjust said handle to different positions, locking means for positively, locking said handle in, one position with respect to said body to prevent movement ofsaid handle in one of said opposite directions from said one position, resilient means for limiting movement of said handle from said one position in a direction opposite to said one direction, and meansv operable upon movement of said handle in said opposite direction against the force of said re-.- silient means to disengage said locking means for movement of said handle from said one position in said one direction.v

; 10. In asuction cleaner, a .cleanerbody; han'-'-"- die:- movably" mounted on said body for movement in: opposite directions to adjust said handle to difierent positions in an operating range, co operating detent means on said handle and body for positively locking said handle at one extreme of said operating range to prevent movement of said handle in onev of said opposite directions, and pivotally mounted means operable upon movement of said handle in a direction opposite to said one direction to unlock said cooperating detent' means for movement of said handle to said operating range from said locked position.

I1. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body, a handle movably mounted on said body for movement in opposite directions to adjust said handle to difierent positions, cooperating detent means on said handle and body for positively locking said handle in one adjusted position to prevent movement of said handle in one of said opposite directions, and pivotally mounted means operable upon movement of said handle in a direction oppositeto said one direction to unlock said co operating detent means for movement of said handle in one direction from said locked position, said pivoted means being of such length as tobe ineffective on said cooperating detentmeans after said handle-has moved in said oned irection past said locked position.

12. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body, a handle pivotally connected to said body at a single axial point overlying the rear wheel axis and having an upright cleaner lifting position and an operating range extending from said upright position through an angle of at least-45 degrees, means operable by said handle for controlling the return of said handle from an upright position to the inclined operating range, said": means comprising stop means cooperating with detent means to positively lock said handle in upright position when it is moved thereto, one of said means being carried on said handle and the other on said body, said detent means being movable into locking engagement with said step means when said handle is moved to its upright cleaner lifting position, and means: including a springbiased member pivoted to said cleaner body for moving said detent means out oflockingengagement with said stop means to provide for return of said handle to an inclined operating. position, said last mentioned means being rendered: operative to move said detent means by pivotal movement of said handle in a direction other than toward its operating range.

13. In combination with a suction cleaner body having a propelling handle pivoted thereto-,- a handle control mechanism providing a handle operating range and a cleaner lifting position, said mechanism beingv operable to positively; lock said, handle against return to said operating rangev as-soon as it is brought into a cleaner lif ing, position, said mechanism including handle stop means cooperating with detent. means, one ofsaid means being carried onsaid handle and the other on said body, said detent. means being. movable into locking engagement. with said stop means to releasing position, said handle being so connected with said one means that pivotal movement of said handle in a direction other than towardits operating range causes said degtent means and. movable member to' actiupon onemnotherto move said detent means out of 8 lockingengagement with said stop means and permit said handle to be moved into said operating range.

l-tl'. In combination with a suction cleaner body havin an operating handle pivoted thereto at a single axial point overlying a rear wheel axis, a handle control mechanism providing an operating range throu h which the handle is freely movable when the cleaner is in use and a cleaner storage position at one end of said operating range in which position the handle is positively locked immediately upon movement thereto whereby the cleaner may be lifted by the handle as a locked unit, said control mechanism including stop means cooperating with a relatively movable handle detent means, one of said means being carried on said handle and the other on said body, said detent means being movable into locking engagement with said step means when said handleis moved to its upright cleaner lifting position, springoiased mova *y mounted means actuatable to move said dotent means and stop means relatively to one another and out of handle locking position, handle being so connected to said one means that pivotal movement of said handle in a direction other than toward its operating range causes said means and said spring-biased means toast upon oneano 'her to unlock said handle and release. itfor' movement into said handle operating range.

1'5; In a suction cleaner; a cleaner body, wheels supporting said body, an operating handle pivot-- ally connected to said body, control means-for said handle inc udin a locking member operable to lock. said handle positively against pivotal movementin one-direction with respect to-saidbody, a pivoted member positioned in the path of said lncleingmemberwhen the handle is moved in an oppositedirection tosaid" one direction from said position adapted to become temporarily lnter lcched with said locking member when the later moved out of handle locking position, said locking member and saidrpi'voted member being arranged toremain interdocked until said l-zandle is moved. in one direction past said locking position and to thereafter become automaticaly disengaged.

16. A handle control mechanism for use on a suction cleaner comprising a supporting bracket member, an operating. handle including a socket member pivotally supported in said bracket, con-- trolmeanshoused by said socket andincluding a pivoted detent mounted on one of said members and. engageable. Withthe other in one position of tliehandle to lock the. handle against movement in one direction,. a pivoted pawl engageable with said detent tomove itout ofpositive locking position when the handle is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction and to hold the detent out of locking position as. the handle is moved in said onedirectionpast said loekingpositi'on.

1'4; Ina device of the class described a body, an upstanding handle pivoted on. said body for swinging movement from a substantially vertical position downwardly and rearwardly to an operating position and'back to said vertical position, a releasable locking mechanism associated with saidhandleand body and automatically operable for locking said handle in its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging, movement of said handle into said vertical. position so as to permit said body to lee-picked up by means of-said' handle-while maintaining the relative position of said body and handle; said lockingmechanism comprising a locking member on said handle, a locking member on said body positioned in the path of movement of said handle locking member so as to lock said handle against rearward pivoting movement, one of said locking members being mounted so that it may be shifted to an inoperative position, and means actuated by forward pivoting movement of said handle from said vertical position for shifting said one of said locking members to said inoperative position in order to permit rearward pivoting movement of said handle.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein means actuated by rearward pivoting movement of said handle are provided to restore said locking member to an operative position;

19. In a device of the class described a body,

10 connected to said body for propelling the same, said pivotal connection including means provid-.

ing for a cleaner propelling range of movement, and a non-cleaner-propelling range of movement,

and means operative to bias said handle toward a point between said two ranges of movement.

22. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having wheeled supporting means, a handle pivotally connected to said body for propelling the same, said pivotal connection including means providing for a cleaner propelling range of movement and a non-cleaner-propelling range of movement,

. means operative to bias said handle toward a a handle pivoted on said body for swinging movement from a parked position in one direction to.

an operating position and back to said parked position, a releasable locking mechanism associated with said handle and body and automatically operable for locking said handle in its parked position relative to said body upon swinging movement of said handle into said parkedposition, said locking mechanism comprising a locking element on said handle, a locking member on said body and arranged to engage said lockin element so as to lock said handle against pivoting movement in said one direction, and means actuated by pivoting movement on said handle in the other direction from said parked position for shifting said locking member so as to move the same out of the path of said locking element in order to permit pivoting movement of said handle in said one direction.

20. In a device of the class described a body, an upstanding handle pivoted on said body for swinging movement from a substantially vertical position downwardly and rearwardly to an operating position and back to said vertical position, a releasable locking mechanism associated with said handle and body and automatically operable for locking said handle in its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging movement of said handle into said vertical position so as to permit said device to be picked up by means of said handle while maintaining the relative position of said body and handle, said locking mechanism including a releasable element operable for rendering said locking mechanism inoperable, and means actuated by forward pivoting movement of said handle from said vertical position for operating said releasable element to render said locking mechanism inoperable in order to permit rearward pivoting movement of said handle.

21. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having wheeled supporting means, a handle pivotally point between said two ranges of movement, means operative to positively lock said handle against return to said cleaner propelling range when the handle is at said point between the two ranges, said last means including means operative torelease said positive look upon movement of the handle into said non-cleaner-propelling.

range of movement.

23. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having wheeled supporting means, a handle pivotally connected to said body for propelling the same,

1 said pivotal connection including means providing for a clean-er propelling range of movement and a non-cleaner-propelling range of .movement, separate means operative to bias saidhandle in opposite directions toward a point between said two ranges of movement, and stop means arranged to limit the efiectiveness of one of said biasing means on said handle to the time when the handle is within a particular oneof said ranges of movement.

24. In combination, a suction cleaner having supporting wheels, a handle pivoted to said,

cleaner and movable rearwardly of said cleaner from an upright position into a cleaner operating range and forwardly of said upright position into a handle control operating range, spring biasing means operative to urge said handle away from both said cleaner operating range and said handle control operating range and into a handle storage position between said two ranges of movement,

and means operative to lock said handle in said storage position and against return to said cleaner operating range.

25. In combination, a suction cleaner having wheels for movement over a surface to be cleaned, an operating handle pivoted thereto for movement through a cleaner propelling range and a non-cleaner-propelling range, and biasing means operative to urge said handle out of said noncleaner-propelling range and toward said cleaner propelling range.

HARRY B. WHITE.

No references cited. 

